Bologna, August 16, 2026 – Rescue operations for two young hikers from Bologna caught first by rain and then by a severe thunderstorm with lightning at an altitude of 1900 meters below Forcella Urtisiel, descending towards the Giaf refuge, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, concluded around 8 p.m.
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One of the two had slipped, sustaining a severe head injury, and the other was hypothermic due to rapidly dropping temperatures. Sores activated the Forni di Sopra (Udine) station of the Alpine Rescue which, together with the Guardia di Finanza, immediately mobilized four rescuers who tried to reach the pass with a stretcher as quickly as possible, first by off-road vehicle and then on foot, since initially the helicopter was not available.
The rescuers reached the young women at altitude under the thunderstorm with lightning, then a gap opened to allow the second helicopter to operate which had meanwhile become available, and which was able to carry a medical professional on board as well as the alpine rescue helicopter technician.
The crew was winched down on site and both girls, with the help of other ground team technicians, were evacuated and taken to the base camp, where the injured was handed over to the ambulance.
Shortly before, a rescue mission had been carried out for two Croatian climbers on Jôf Fuart in Malborghetto Valbruna (Udine).
They had called for help due to the imminent storm about to catch them on the wall. Sores sent the regional helicopter, the second helicopter, with the helicopter technician on board, who performed the double winch recovery maneuver. Rescuers from the Cave del Predil station of the alpine rescue waited at the base camp for their arrival to accompany them to their car.
